Signature Theatre presents 1980s rock musical ‘Chess’

Since 1984, “Chess (One Night in Bangkok)” has been staged around the world in a variety of productions with shifting emphasis on the Cold War angle. The commonality is the tale of two men competing for the world chess championship and the love of one woman. This first major American production since 1993 stars Jeremy Kushnier as Freddie, the American chess master, Euan Morton as Anatoly, his Russian counterpart, and Jill Paice as Florence, the woman both men love. “The greatest thing about this role is all the music involved,” Morton said. “I love the score and have been singing it in the shower since I was a kid, but I’ve never seen the show. That’s an advantage because it’s been done in many ways with different endings and the characters are so fluid there’s room for interpretation. It’s almost like creating a role in a new musical. This production is different from others in the past because it focuses on Florence, following her through her various experiences.”

Morton, a native of Falkirk, Scotland, was trained in classical theater during college. Ironically, after many years in dramatic roles on stage, film, and TV in the United Kingdom, his big break came as Boy George in “Tattoo” on London’s West End. After earning a Whatsonstage and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in the UK, he reprised the role on Broadway in 2003, walking away with a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nomination, along with the Theatre World award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

“That role came about in a strange way, but it changed my life,” he said. “Coming here for the Broadway run was the first time I visited the United States. Since then, I’ve had wonderful theater opportunities and have traveled all over this country. It’s so big you can ski in Vermont and then go to Alabama to sing in a beautiful Southern mansion. I appreciate the fact that people are honest and don’t have false modesty, and although I love my homeland, I love the United States, as well, because we share a common history.”

Following “Taboo,” Morton played Ligniere in “Cyrano de Bergerac” on Broadway, the title roles in Tony Kushner’s off-Broadway adaptation of “Brundibar” and “Caligula: An Ancient Glam Epic” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and “Measure For Pleasure” at the Public Theater, for which he won a 2006 Obie Award. Additional shows include “Howard Katz,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Into The Woods” and the American premiere of “Leaves of Glass.”

Following “Taboo,” Morton played Ligniere in “Cyrano de Bergerac” on Broadway, the title roles in Tony Kushner’s off-Broadway adaptation of “Brundibar” and “Caligula: An Ancient Glam Epic” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and “Measure For Pleasure” at the Public Theater, for which he won a 2006 Obie Award. Additional shows include “Howard Katz,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Into The Woods” and the American premiere of “Leaves of Glass.”

Morton came to “Chess” rehearsals directly from a four-month run of “Sondheim on Sondheim,” a tribute to the 80-year-old composer. In addition to his duet with Barbara Cook, “Beautiful” from “Sunday in the Park with George,” he sang the contrasting patter song, “Franklin Shepherd Inc.” from “Merrily We Roll Along.” Now he is thrilled to concentrate on the rock music that captivated him years ago.

“I want the ‘Chess’ audiences to take away excitement about the score, but more than that, I want them to have an understanding of the story,” he said. “People have never understood the book, but Eric has made it more of a character-driven piece about the love of two men for the same woman and the cause for betrayal.”